Aim: To understand the help seeking behaviour of parents having children with minor
illnesses such as fungal skin infection and to respond appropriately to such behaviours.
Design: A descriptive qualitative study using the free attitude interview technique
Method: The study was conducted in Francistown City Council Clinics. Eight
participants were interviewed. Using purposeful sampling chose the participants. Each
respondent was asked the same exploratory question “How much do you know about
this skin infection?” Exploratory question (Setswana) is “O itse go le kae ka bolwetsi
jone jo jwa letlalo?” The probe follow up questions were used to encourage elaboration
on the topic. The discussions were held in Setswana language. The interviews were audio
– taped. The recordings were transcribed, and the ideas that emerged were developed into
themes.
Results: Most of the respondents believed that Skin fungal infection was common in the
community and it was generally called skin rash. It was believed to be infectious that it
may be associated with HIV infection. Some however believe that its cause was known
and it was treatable
The help seeking behaviour of parents having children with minor illness like skin fungal
infection falls within these reasons: Availability of alternative treatment,
Concern of the child especially if the child complains about the problem,
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Concern of the parents when the parents consider such minor health concern as a health
problem for the child, issues around difficult in management of the problem,
If problem is tolerable.
Conclusion: Residents of Francistown city council, which was where the study was
carried out perceived skin fungal infection as a common infectious skin problem, that is
treatable.
There is adequate knowledge of the symptoms of skin fungal infection among the
participants.
Some of the participants believed that skin fungal infection is common in children
because they see the skin lesion as a normal change in colour for children before adult
life. It was believe that as they get older the change in colour will then disappear.
Many of them believe that they do not know the cause and even the few that felt that they
knew the cause could not give a good account of the exact cause of the skin fungal
infection, only one said that it is caused by a germ.
Most of the participants were aware that it is treatable but yet they were not keen seeking
for help when they come to the clinics because of one or two of the following reasons:
Availability of alternative treatment; Concern of the child especially if the child
complains about the problem; Concern of the parents when the parents consider such
minor health concern as a health on the child; Issues around difficult in management of
the problem; Health problem being tolerable